Metropolitan Borys took part in the meeting with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in New York
During his visit to the United States of America, President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, met with the Ukrainian community in New York. Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan of Philadelphia, took part in the meeting, representing the Ukrainian Catholic community in the United States.
During his remarks to the attendees, Zelensky noted that he considers them the best ambassadors of Ukraine, “because you are defending our state, our sovereignty, territorial integrity abroad.”
The President also handed over state awards to several representatives of the Ukrainian community in the United States. In particular, he awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise to the executive director of Winner Group Ukraine, Ivan Hynansky, the Order of Merit to the national leader of the non-governmental organization Ukrainian American Veterans, Ihor Rudko, and the Order of Princess Olha to both the President of Revived Soldiers Ukraine, Iryna Washchuk, and President of the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, Larysa Kyi. Bandurist, composer and conductor Julian Kytasty was awarded with the honorary title of “Honored Artist of Ukraine”.
Archbishop Borys gifted the President and his wife Olena a Ukrainian translation of Fr. Henry Nouwen’s “Ukrainian Journals” recently published by Svichado.
Henry Nouwen (1932–1996) was a Dutch priest, teacher, and one of the most famous theological writers of our time. The last ten years of his life he lived with people with mental disabilities in the L’Arche-Daybreak community in Toronto (Canada).
